Acylamidoaceto-mercaptophenones



- dibromoacetylamino,

nited States Patent Ofic 2,759,97m Patented Aug 21, 1956 2,159,970 AcYLAmnoAcnro-Mmcmornnmms Chester M. Suter,'Ansterlitz, N. Y., assignor to Sterling- Drug Inc New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application 9, 1956, Serial No. 586,890

5 Claims. Cl. 260-552 n-soQcn-cn-onion where R is a hydrocarbyl radical having 1-7 carbon atoms, and Y is an aliphatic carboxylic acylamino radical. The'hydrocarbyl radical R includes aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, carbocyclic aryl, and benzyl radicals having 1-7 carbon atoms and represents, for example: branched and unbranched alkyl radicals, such as methyl, ethyl, npropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-heptyl, isoamyl, etc.; alkenyl radicals, such as allyl, methallyl, etc.; cycloalkyl rad icals, such as cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, etc.; benzyl; phenyl; and ortho-, meta-, and para-tolyl radicals. The acyl amino radicals represented by Y include both saturated and unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acylamino'radicals wherein the aliphatic carboxylic acyl group can be considered as being derived from an aliphatic carboxylic acid. Thus, for example, Y can be alkanoylamino, haloalkanoylamino, nitroalkanoylamino, alkylmercaptoaL- kanolyamino, etc. I particularly prefer acyclic lower aliphatic carboxylic acylamino radicals containing 1-4 carbon atoms. This preferred group of acyl radicals includes, for example, acetylamino, dichloroacetylamino,

bromoacetylamino, beta-chloropropionylamino, difluoroacetylamino, alpha-chloropropionylamino, trichloroacetylamino, nitroacetylamino, methylmercaptoacetylamino, methylsulfonylacetylamino, ethy1- mercaptoacetylamino, butyrylamino, alpha-methylpropionylamino, alpha,alpha-dichloropropionylamino, iodoacetylamino, cyanoacetylamino, methoxyacetylamino, acrylylamino, alpha-hydroxypropionylamino, etc.

The following groups of compounds embraced by the generic formula hereinabove are illustrative of the products described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 249,213:

2 haloalkanoylamino 1 (4 alkylsulfonylphenyl) I 1,3-propanediols, having the formula H N M 2 alkanoylamino 1 4 alkylsulionylphenyl) 1,3-propanediols, having the formula Alkyl-SOQ-EH-(fH-CILOH H NH-C-alkyl 2 haloalkanoylamino 1 (4 alkenylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediols, having the formula 2 haloalkanoylamino 1 4'- benzylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediols, having the formula Q-cm-sm-Q-cn-om-cmon 2 nitroalkanoylamino 1 (4 alkylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediols, having the formula nut-sm-Qgn-cm-omon H NH-O-(nltroalkyl) 2 alkylmercaptoalkanoylamino 1 (4 alkylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3propanediols, having the formula H NH-C-(alkylmerespttmlkyl) 2 haloalkanoylamino 1 (4 phenylsulfo'nylphenyl)-1,3-propanediols, having the formula der acidic conditions.

@soQ-on-om-cmon 2 nitroalkanoylamino 1 (4 cycloalkylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-propanediols, having the formula The 2-aliphatic carboxylic acylamino-1-(4-hydrocarbylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediols described above are useful as antibiotic agents, being particularly valuable as antimicrobial agents. For example, they exhibit bactericidal and bacteriostatic action against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and rickettsial organisms. The compounds are also useful as intermediates for the preparation of other valuable organic substances. Thus, for example, they can be hydrolyzed by hot strong mineral acids to produce the corresponding 2-amino-1-(4- hydrocarbylsulfonylphenyD-1,3-propanediols.

The sulfonyl compounds above can in general be obtained by oxidizing a corresponding 2-aliphatic carboxylic acylamino 1 (4 hydrocarbylmercaptophenyl) 1,3 propanediol by treating it with a per-compound un- 'Ihe reaction involved in this process is represented by the following equation:

The term .per-compound as employed with reference acylation reaction or if desired, it can be to this invention dcsignateshydrogen peroxide or a subthe free amine by treatment with a base and ai s: stance derivedmtlhieigfromfllwhich contains at least two mine, which is somewhat unstable can be 'nteracted oxygen atoms e toge er, i. e. a peroxy linkage, in with an desired d correspondi accordance with the definition set forth in Per-Acids and 6 additionzalt. m to the as acid Their Salts, by "r. s. Price, p. 1 m, Longmans-Green The alpha-(aliphatic carboxylic lamino -4-h 1911). Per-compounds suitable for use in obtaining carbylmercaptoacetophenones (VI) :f my invZntioZ a t r: th compounds of my lIlVCl'ltlOll include, for example, readily obtained, for example, by treating the appropri- Caros acid (HsSOs), ammomum persulfate ate alpha-amino-t-hydrocarbylmercaptoacetophenones [(Nnhsaofl l conventtionczlsll fashion an aliphatic carboxylic 0 a n a e su potassmn} p s Y '?8 P f pemetw i ac'ylatio: ca m be carried u tf for examp le l s g l ting tl iz Pfrbelllolc 861d, pcrphthallc acid, Pcfbofale, acylating agent and the amine (V) in an anhydrous ordlllm lw Gellcmlly, Preferable ganic solvent or in an alkaline aqueous solution. The employ as the oxidizing g= qrs m P such 16 temperature of the reaction can be varied within rather as Peracctlc acld lwl'lmllolc icld- 8 Y wide limits, but a range of 0-100 C is generall satis the oxidation is carried out in the presence of an organic factory, w using an acid addifim It of fl'm aming solvent which is inert to the per-compound employed as v the" is added to the acyhfian met-on mixture a the oxidant. The oxidation usually proceeds most satisalkah factorily at temperatures in die range -100 0., de- 20 g of-an-orgamc generate an am from pending on the choice of oxidant, but for optimum yields, the amine an the (v) which th m b it is preferable, when using an organic peracid, not to the latin L en a on y allow the reaction temperature to rise above about 65 C. i m

The instant invention relates in particular to novel bemg useful "R compounds (structural formula VI b useful as preparation of the sulfonyl compounds, I, as described termediates in the synthesis of the above-mentioned 2- me of my new a' (hydrocal'byl' amino and acylamino;LQWmrbYlmel-Ptovhewly mercapto)acetophenonehexamethylenetetramine adducts 1,3-propanediols (II) and Z-amino and acylamino-l-hy- V), p t y y p me ph drocarbylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-propanediols (I) in ac- IIOIM and p lip ic carboxylic acylamino)- cordanee with the following sequence of reactiom: so 4-hydrocarbylmercaptoacetophenones (VI) have useful a Hs-BaHCHslNs HOOelk-llae v loondmtton v OH-O,Hs0H E--OHOHs-OE 3 i a i VII II 1 I ostthttcu where Hal represents chlorine or bromine, and R and Y chemo-therapeutic properties, for example having, in have the same significance indicated hereimbove. aqueous solution, antibacterial activity against such or- The alphahalo- 4- (hydrocarbylmercapto)acetophe- :anisms as Staphylococcus aureus 209; Streptococcus nonehexamethylenetetramine adducts (IV) are readily hemolyticus C 203; Eberthella typhl, Hopkins; Clostriprepared, as represented in the above equations, by interdlum wclchii, M; and Mycobacterium tuberculosis action of approximately equivalent amounts of an alpha- H37Rv. chloro or bromo-4-(hydrocarbylmercapto)acetophenone My invention is illustrated by the following examples (III) and hexamethylenetetramine. The reaction is conwithout, however, being limited thereto. veniently carried out at about 25 C. in a suitable inert EXAMPLE 1 solvent such as chloroform, ethylene dichloride, chlorobenzene, or toluene. The adduct separates from solu- 2 acetylamlno I (4 methylsulfanylphcnyl) 1,3 tion and is collected on a filter. Higher temperatures 60 propanediol may cause some discoloration of the product. The starting materials, III, for this reaction are readily obtained CHI-S m-Q-cn-cn-cmon by halogenation of a 4 (hydrocarbylmercapto)acetov A lh'g c cm phenone.

The alpha-amino 4 (hydr'ocarbylmercapto) acetophenones (V) are obtained by hydrolyzing the alpha-halo-4- (hydrocarbylmercapto)acetophenone hexamethylenetet- HYDROCHLORIDE ramine adducts (IV) by treating the adducts with an in- 110 g. of thiophenol was added with stirring to a mixorganic mineral acidgijiuch as hydrochloric acid, hydroture of 90 ml. of aqueous sodium hydroxide solubromic acid, phospho' acid, or sulfuric acid, under mild 70 1 and 0 mlf e in a -3 ec fl h T conditions of temperature, preferably at 20-30 C. Adthe resulting mixture, there was added 139 g. of methyl vantageously, ethanol is used as a reaction medium. The sulfate from a dropping funnel at such a rate'that the products, V, are obtained in the form of an acid additemperature of the reaction mixture did not rise above tion salt with the acid used for the hydrolysis. This C. while applying external ice cooling to the reacaddition salt can be, and usually is, used in the subsequent tionvessel. The addition of the methyl sulfate required A. ALPHA-AMINO4-METHYLMEBCAPTOACETOPHENONE about five to ten minutes. After the addition of methyl sulfate was completed, stirring of the reaction mixture was continued for about onehour, and then the mixture was cooled. The thioanisole which separated from the mixture was dissolved in about 400 ml. of chloroform. The chloroform solution was separated, washed with 100 ml. of dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate. (In other experiments, isolation of the product from the chloroform solution resulted in recovery of thioanisole in a yield of 90-95% of the theoretical based on the quantity of thiophenol employed.)

The chloroform solution of thioanisole was filtered free from the calcium sulfate directly into a 2-liter, 3-neck flask fitted with a stirrer, thermometer, i dropping funnel, and outlet tube (for escape of hydrogen chloride g2?) protected by a drying tube. Sufi'icient anhydrous c oroform was added to the filtrate to bring the volume up to about 800 ml. and the solution was cooled by means of an ice-methanol bath. 165 g. of aluminum chloride was then added rapidly to the chloroform solution, while keeping the temperature of the solution below C. 106 g. of acetyl chloride was added ttxthe solution by means of a dropping funnel while still maintaining the temperature of the reaction mixture below 10 C. As the addition of the acetyl chloride proceeded, a yellow solid gradually separated from the mixture (In some instances, it was found desirable to add an additional quantity of dry chloroform to the-reaction mixture in order to facilitate stirring.) When the addition of the acetyl'chloride was completed, the cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to C. while continuing vigorous stirring. The thick reaction mixture was then decomposed by pouring it into a liter of ice and water containing -50 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid with vigorous stirring to ensure complete decomposition of the complex. The chloroform layer, which contained 4-methylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula CHs-SQ-C-CHI was separated and employed directly in the subsequent step. (In other experiments, by evaporation of the chloroform solution there was obtained in 96-98% yield 4- methylrnercaptoacetophenone in a high degree of purity.) The chloroform solution of 4-methylmercaptoacetophenone was placed in a 3-liter, 3-neck flask fitted with a stirrer, a dropping funnel, and an outlet tube for escape of hydrogen bromide gas. The volume of the chloroform solution was brought up to about 1600 ml. by addition of chloroform. About g. of bromine was added to the solution and the mixture was allowed to stand until the reaction was initiated, as evidenced by evolution of hydrogen bromide. Stirring of the mixture was then begun and a further quantity of 120 g. of bromine was added during a period-of three to five minutes. The reaction mixture was then placed under reduced pres- -sure by application of a water aspirator in order to remove the major portion of the hydrogen bromide. The temperature of the solution, which contained alpha-bromo-4- methylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula gradually fell, due to evaporation, to about l0-l5 C. (A sample of this bromo ketone, isolated in another experiment, was obtained in the form of small white leaflets, which melted at 65.5-66.5 C., after recrystallization from methanol.)

To the cold chloroform solution of alpha-bromomercaptoacetophenone, there was added 140 g. of hexamethylenetetramine. 'The temperature of the mixture rose gradually to about 30-35 C., and a white solid separated from themixture. The mixture was stirred for about two hours and then the solid was collected on a filter and washed with chloroform. The product thus obtained consisted of alpha-bromo-4-methylmercaptoacetophenonehexamethylenetetramine adduct, havin'g the formula oweQg-cm-mxcnmm and melting at 144-145" C. When tested in aqueous solution, this compound showed antibacterial activity'in vitro as shown below. 4

The alpha-bromo-4-methylmercaptoacetophenonehexamethylenetetramine adduct obtained in the. preceding step was placed in a 3-liter flask with .750 ml; of' ethanol and 375 m1. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. As the mixture was stirred, producing a slurry, thesolid gradually went into solution. The reaction product subsequently began to separate from the solution. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 10 C., filtered, and the filter cake was washed with 100 m1. of cold ethanol. The damp filter cake was then slurried for a few minutes at 40-50' C, with 600 ml. of water containing 25 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. After cooling the slurry to 510'' 0.,

the white solid was collected on a filter, washed with ml. of water containing 5 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and dried. There was thus obtained -141 g. of alpha-amino-4-methylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride, having the formula CHg-S-Q-E-CHPNHLHCI A sample of this product when recrystallized from water formed large white leaflets which melted at 234.5-235' C. (dec.). The compound was soluble in water to the extent of 2%, weight/volume, the pH of a 1% aqueous solution being 5.1. The compound produced moderate pressor effects when administered intravenously in aqueous solution to barbitalized dogs in doses of 1 to 8 mgJkg.

B. ALPHA-ACETYLAMINO-4-METHYLMERCAPTOACETO- PHENONE A slurry of 11 g. of alpha-amino-4-methylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride in 50 ml. of water containing 100 g. of ice was stirred vigorously and to the slurry there were added in one portion 10 ml. of acetic anhydride followed by a solution of 14.5 g. of sodium acetate trihydrate in '60 ml. of water. The temperature of the reaction mixture, which did not rise during addition of the acetic anhydride and sodium acetate, was allowed to warm to room temperature (about 25 C.) and stirring was continued for an additional two hours. Sufiicient concentrated hydrochloric acid was then added to make the reaction mixture acid to Congo red paper (to dissolve any unreacted aminolcetone), and the white solid in the mixture was then collected on a filter. This solid was washed with 30 ml. of water and dried. There was thus obtained 10 g. of alpha-acetylamino-4-methylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula which melted at 1332-4346 after recrystallization 7 water-solubility of the compound was less than 0.25%, weight/volume. It was soluble in 95 ethanol to the extent of 1%, weight/volume. v

C. ALPHA-ACEIYLAMINO-BETA-HYDROXY-4-METHYL MEBCAPTOPROPIOPHENONE A mixture of 15 g. of alpha-acetlyamino-4-methylmercaptoacetophenone, 70 ml. of ethanol, 25 ml. of water, 10 ml. of'formalin (37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde), and a solution of 0.3 g. of sodium bicarbonate in 10 ml. of water was stirred at 35' C. for two hours. The original thick slurry gradually thinned out and after about ten minutes the reaction mixture was a pale yellow solution. At the end of the two-hour period, the solution was refrigerated for about ten hours. The crystalline solid which separated from the cooled solution was collected on a filter and washed with 20 ml. vof water. There was thus obtained 10.5 g. of alpha-acetlyamino-beta-hydroxy- 4-methylmercaptopropiophenone, having the formula cm-s-Q-g-ram-cmoa This product was purified by recrystallization from ethyl acetate to yield white fluffy needles which melted at 125.6-127.8 C. a

n. 2-ACBTYLAMINO-1-(4-METHYLMERCAPTOPEENYL)- 1,3-PROPANEDIOL A mixture of 5 g. of alpha-acetylamiro-beta-hydroxy-4- methylmercaptopropiophenone, 20 g. of aluminum isopropoxide, and 120 ml. of isopropanol was slowly distilled through a fifteen-inch column until the distillate gave no test for acetone. This distillation required about seven hours. The excess isopropanol was then distilled from the reaction mixture and the residue was heated for thirty minutes with a solution of g. of sodium chloride in 100 ml. of water. The resulting suspension was filtered while hot and the aluminum hydroxide residue thus collected was washed several times with ether. From the filtrate there separated a white solid in the form of tiny leaflets. This solid was collected on a filter and washed with ml. of ether. There was thus obtained 1.5 g. of Z-acetylamino 1 4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol, having the formula om-eQgn-gz-cmon which melted at 167-168 C. Recrystallization from water and then nitroethane raised the meltingpoint to 172.l-173.5' C.

at. 2-ACETYLAMINO-1-(4-METHYLBULFONYLPHENYL)- 1,8-PBOPANEDIOL 1.95 g. of a 2-acetylamino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol was slurried in ml. of acetone and to the slurry was added dropwise 4.5 ml. of 40% peracetic acid. (The term 40% peracetic acid is employed in this and the succeeding examples to designate a commercial preparation of peracetic acid consisting of an aqueous solution containing approximately 40% peracetic acid, 5% of hydrogen peroxide, 39% of acetic acid, and 1% of sulfuric acid, the percentages being by weight.) The temperature of the reaction mixture was maintained at 46' C. or below by ice-cooling of the reaction vessel. After the addition of the peracetic acid was completed, stirring of the reaction, mixture was continued for two hours, after which time the mixture was cooled to 5 C. The white solid which separated was collected on a filter and washed with two 5 ml. portions of cold acetone. This product was recrystallized from nitroethane to yield 1.02 g. of Z-acetylamino-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3- propanediol in the form of white leaflets which melted at 172.7-l73.7' C.

EXAMPLE 2 2 dicliloroaeetylamino-l-G-methybulfonylphenyl)- 1,3-prop'anedio! om-sowo-gn-on-omon A Z-AMIN 0-1- (4-MIIITHYLMEBCAPTOPHENYL) -1,3- PBOPANEDIOL A mixture of 50 parts by weight of racemic Z-acetylamino 1 (4 methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3 prosolution.

H NB, This product melted at non-131.9 c. after recrystallization from methanol.

A solution of 17.5 g. of the 2-amino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol described above, which of course was a racemic or optically inactive form of the compound, in ml. of methanol and a solution of 13 g. of d-tartaric acid in 100 ml. of methanol were mixed and the mixture was allowed to stand at 15-20 C. for about six hours. The solid which had separated from the solution during this period was then collected on a filter, the methauolic filtrate being retained for treatment as described below. There was thus obtained 18 g. of solid which melted at 190-196 C. This solid was suspended in ml. of water and suflicient dilute hydrochloric acid .was added to etfect solution of the solid. To the solution thus obtained there was added 50 ml. of 35% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution which caused the separation of 11.7 g. of yellowish solid from solution. This solid melted at 127-135 C. Two recrystallization of this product from methanol yielded 1.5 g. of coarse white needles which melted at 152-153 C. This product was a levo-rotary form of 2-amino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol having [e] "=-21 (1% solution in 95% ethanol).

The met'hanolic filtrate retained above was distilled on the steam bath to remove the methanol. The residue thus obtained was dissolved in 50 ml. of water and the resulting solution was treated with 15 ml. of 35% caustic solution. This caused the separation of 3.0 g. of white solid which melted at 141-150 C. This product was recrystallized twice from methanol, thus yielding 1.0 g. of white crystals consisting of a dextro-rotary form of 2 amino l (4 methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3 propanediol which melted at 152-153" C. and had [a] "=+21 (1% solution in 95% ethanol).

The racemic amine was also resolved in the following manner: 33.0 g. of racemic 2-amino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol and 34.6 g. of d-N-benzoylthreonine (M. P. 149-151 C.; obtained by benzoylation of d-threonim) were dissolved in 500 ml. of methanol by warming. Crystallization was initiated by cooling the solution to 25. C. and scratching the inner walls of the container. The solution was refrigerated at 5' C. for about ten hours and then the crystals which had separated from solution were collected on a filter, the filtrate (A) being retained for recovery of the dextro-rotary amine as described below. The solid on the filter was washed with a few ml. of cold methanol and dried at 70 C. There was thus obtained 31.3 g. of levo-rotary- 2 amino 1 (4 methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3 propanediol d-N-benzoylthreonine salt which melted at 184-186 C. This crop of salt was dissolved in 100 ml. of water containing 6.2 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and the solution was then made alkaline by addition of 13 ml. of 35% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. 20 g. of sodium chloride was dissolved in-this solution which was then cooled to 5 C. A heavy crop of crystals separated from the solution and this solid was collected on a filter, washed with a little saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and dried at 70 C. There was thus obtained 15.0 g. of crude levo-rotary 2-arnino-1-(4- methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol which melted at 147-150" C. This product was recrystallized from 150 ml. of methanol to yield 11.9 g. of the pure levo-rotary amine which melted at 151-153? C. By concentrating the mother liquor, 3.0 g. of solid consisting largely of the racemic amine was recovered.

The filtrate (A) retained as indicated above was evaporated at reduced pressure. The residue thus obtained was dissolved in 100 ml. of water containing 62 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and the solution was made alkaline by addition of 13 ml. of 35% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. g. of sodium chloride was dissolved in this solution which was then cooled to 5 C. The heavy crop of crystalline solid which separated from the solution was collected on a filter, washed with a few ml. of saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and dried at 70 C. There was thus obtained 13.5 g. of crude dextro-rotary 2-amino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3- propanediol. This product was recrystallized from methanol to yield 8.5 g. of the pure dextro-rotary amine which melted at 151-153" C. By concentrating the mother liquor, 5.0 g. of solid consisting largely of the racemic amine was recovered.

B. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-(4-METHYLMEBCAP- TOPHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL A mixture of 1.1 g. of levo-rotary 2-amino l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, obtained as described above in part A, and 1.6 ml. of ethyl dichloroacetate was heated on a steam bath for three hours. The resulting viscous yellow oil was dissolved in ml. of ethylene chloride and filtered hot with charcoal, and the filtrate was allowed to cool to about 25 C. From the filtrate there separated 0.92 g. of tiny'white leaflets which were collected on a filter. Recrystallization of this product, which was a dextro-rotary form of 2-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4- methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3 propanediol, having the formula om-sQ-gn-on-onfln from nitroethane yielded the pure product, which melted at l11.61l2.6 C. and had [a] =+1 2 (1% solution in 95% ethanol).

In similar fashion, the dextro-rotary 2-amino-1-( 4-methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol was acylated with ethyl dichloroacetate to yield a levo-rotary form of 2-dichloroacetylamino 1 (4 methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3- propanediol, which melted at 111.6-112.6 C. and had [a] =-12 (1% solution in 95% ethanol).

Also, in analogous fashion, the dichloroacetylation of the racemic amine yielded a racemic 2-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol, M. P. 101.2102.4 C.

O. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-(4-METHYLSULBON- YLPHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL 7 g. of the levo-rotary Z-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4-meth ylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol obtained as described in part A above was dissolved in ml. of acetone. To this solution there was added dropwise with stirring 10 ml. of 40% peracetic acid. The temperature during the reaction was maintained at 39-45 C. by cooling the readtion vessel. After stirring the mixture for two hours, it was diluted with 100 ml. of water and the solution allowed to stand over the weekend in the refrigerator. The sol-id which separated from solution was collected on a filter, washed several times with ice water, and dried overnight at 70 C. There was thus obtained 6.2 g. of a levo-rotary 2 dichloroacetylamino 1 (4 methylsulfonylphenyl)- A 1,3-propanediol which melted at 164.3166.3 C. and'had [a] =--12 (1% solution in ethanol).

A dextro-rotary Z-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-propanediol was prepared in similar fashion by oxidation of the dextro-rotary 2-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol obtained as described in part B above. This product melted at 165.2-l66.6 C. and had [a] =+13 (1% solution in 95% ethanol). i

EXAMPLE 3 Z-dibromoacetylamino-I-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-I,3- propanediai cmsoQ-on-on-omon tin cm-s-Q-gn-on-omon H NH-C-CHBH In analogous fashion, the dibromoacetylation of the levorotary Z-amino-1-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol described in Example 2A yields a dextro-rotary form of the Z-dibromoacetylamino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, and the enantiomeric dextro-rotary amino-diol yields a levo-rotary 2-dibromoacetylamino-1- (4-methylmercaptophenyl -1,3-propanediol.

B. 2-DIBROMOACETYLAMINO-1-( i-METHYLSULFONYL- PHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL Oxidation of the racemic, dextro-rotary, and levorotary forms of 2-dibromoacetylamino-1-(4-methylmer captophenyl)-l,3-propanediol obtained as described above in part A yields, respectively, racemic, dextro-rotary, and levo-rotary forms of 2-dibromoacetylamino-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl) -1,3-propanediol.

EXAMPLE 4 Z-dichloroacetylamino-I-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl) -1,3-

propanediol om-sm-Q-gn-om-cmon H NH-C-CHCI:

A. ALPHA-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO HMETHYL MEBCAPTOACETOPHENONE 217.7 of alpha-amino-4-methylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride obtained as described in part A of Example 1 was mixed with 4.5 liters of anhydrous benzene at 27- C. 166 g. of dichloroacetyl chloride was added in one portion to the mixture, and the resulting mixture was refluxed and stirred for fifteen to eighteen hours. After this period most of the solid had gone into solution. The reaction mixture was filtered hot through a preheated funnel and the filtrate was allowed to cool. The solid which separated from solution was collected on a filter,

I same-1o l1 washed with benzene, and dried. Therewas thus obtained 230 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-t-methylmercaptoacetophenone having the formula CH:-SENHECHCI, Recrystallization of this product from acetone yielded white needles which melted at ll.7-152.9 C.

B. ALPHA-DICHLOBOACETYLAMINO-BETA-HYDROXY-t- METHYLMEBCAPTOPROPIOPHENONE 292.2 g. of alpha dichloroacetylamino-4-methylmercaptoacetophenone was slurried with 14.5 liters of ethanol at 40 C. 15 g. of sodium bicarbonate and 150 ml. of formalin (37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde) were added to the mixture and stirring was continued while maintaining the temperature of the solution at 40-50 C. until all of the alpha-dichloroacetylamino-4-mercaptoacetophenone had gone into solution. This required about eight hours. The suspended sodium bicarbonate was then removed by filtration and the volume of the filtrate was reduced to 2-2.5 liters by evaporation of ethanol from the solution under reduced pressure. The residual solution, which had an orange color, was refrigerated for about ten hours. The solid which separated from the solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 232 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-beta-hydroxy-4-methylmercaptopropiophenone having the formula onr-s--En c m-crnoir Recrystallization of this product from ethylene chloride yielded tiny white leaflets which melted at 147.7-l48.5 C.

C. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1- (l-METHYLMEBCAP- TOPHENYL) -1,3-PROPANEDIOL 322.2 g. of alpha-dichloroaoetylamino-beta-hydroxy-4- methylmercaptopropiophenone, 420 g. of aluminum isopropoxide, and three liters of anhydrous isopropanol were placed in a 5-liter flask and the mixture was heated at such a rate that distillation of liquid through a 15-inch column occurred at the rate of one drop per three to five seconds. Distillation was continued for sixteen to eighteen hours after which time a test for acetone in the distillate was negative. (The test for acetone was carried out using a 0.1% solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in accordance with the procedure described in Organic Reactions, vol. II, page 200). The isopropanol remaining in the reaction mixture was removed by evaporation at reduced pressure. The dark red viscous residue thus obtained was heated on a steam bath for about forty-five minutes with 2.5 liters of water containing 200 g. of sodium chloride. The sodium chloride was added to reduce the tendency of aluminum hydroxide to form a gel. The hot suspension was filtered to remove aluminum hydroxide. The collected aluminum hydroxide was slurried several times with ether to remove the adhering red oil and the ether extracts were combined with the filtrate. The combined ether solutions were dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate and the ether was removed from the dry solution by distillation. There was thus obtained 310320 g. of a dark red viscous oil. This oil was dissolved in 1600 ml. of ethylene dichloride, filtered with charcoal, and the filtrate was cooled. The solid which separated from the filtrate consisted of 180-195 g. of 2-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4-methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3 propanediol, having the formula crn-s-Qgn-on-omon H NH-C-CHCI:

by'an additional recrystallization from ethylene chloride.

dichloroacetylamino-l-(4 methylmercaptophenyl) 1,3--

propanediol which melted at 101.2-102.4' C.

D. DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-l-(d-ltdETHYLBULFONYL- PHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL 21 ml. of 40% peracetic acid was added to a stirred solution of 15.0 g. of 2-dichloroacetylamino1-(4-methylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol dissolved in 55 ml. of acetone. External cooling of the reaction vessel with ice was applied and the rate of addition of peracetic acid was adjusted so that the temperature of the reaction mixture did not rise above 40 C. The reaction mixture was then stirred one hour and was cooled to 5 C. The solid which separated from solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 14.0 g. of a white solid consisting of 2-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4-methylsu1fouylphenyl)- 1,3-propanediol which melted at 179.4l80.6 C.

EXAMPLE 5 2-dichI0r0acetylamin0-1-(4-ethylsulf0nylphenyl)-1,3 propanediol cm-sm-Qgn-pn-cmon A. ALPHA-AMINb-4-ETHYIMERCAPIOACETOPHENONE HYDROCHLORIDE 337 g. of ethyl sulfate was added from a dropping funnel to a stirred solution of 200 g. of thiophenol in 800 ml. of 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide. The reaction mixture was then stirred for two hours. During this period the temperature of the mixture gradually rose to 65 C. and then decreased to room temperature (about 25 C.) and the desired reaction product, ethyl phenyl sulfide, separated from the mixture as an oil. This oil was extracted from the mixture with 800 ml. of chloroform. The chloroform solution of ethyl phenyl sulfide thus obtained was dried for several hours over anhydrous calcium sulfate. The dry solution was then placed in a 3-liter, 3-neck flask fitted-with a stirrer, thermometer, and I drying tube. The solution was stirred and cooled to 10 C. and ml. of acetyl chloride was added. 300 g. of anhydrous aluminum chloride was then added portionwise while keeping the temperature of the reaction mixture at 5-15 C. After the addition of the aluminum chloride was completed, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to 20 C. and was poured into about 2 kg. of ice. The chloroform layer, which contained the desired 4- ethylmercaptoacetophenone, was separated from the mixture and placed in a 5-liter, 3-neck flask fitted with a stirrer and dropping funnel. To the stirred solution there was added 75 g. of bromine. After the reaction was initiated, as shown by the evolution of hydrogen bromide, an additional 225 g. of bromine was added as rapidly as was practical. The hydrogen bromide evolved from the mixture was removed by applying reduced pressure to the stirred solution, which contained alpha-bromo-4-ethylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula mm-s-Q-c-om-m (A sample of the bromoketone isolated in another experiment melted at 74.4-75.4 C. after recrystallization from was collected on a filter, washed with chloroform and sucked partially dry on the filter. The adduct was mixed with 760 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 1540 m1. of ethanol, and the mixture was stirred for about six hours. The resulting suspension was cooled to C., and was filtered and washed with about 200 m1. of ethanol.

The solid was then slurried with one liter of warm water containing ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. This suspension was cooled to 5 C. and then filtered. The collected solid was washed with about 300 ml. of ice water and dried. There was thus obtained 211 g. of alpha-amino-4-ethylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride, having the formula This product melted at 186.5 C. (dec.) after recrystallization from water which had been made slightly acid with dilute hydrochloric acid.

B. ALPHA-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-4-ETHYLMER- CAPIOACETOPHENONE A mixture of 200 g. of alpha-amino-4-ethylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride and 4.5 liters of benzene was placed in a 12-liter, 3-neck flask fitted with a stirrer and a reflux condenser with water trap. The benzene was distilled slowly until no more water collected in the water trap. 147 g. of dichloroacetyl chloride was added to the mixture in a single portion and the resulting mixture was refluxed for fifteen hours. The evolution of hydrogen chloride had practically ceased at the end of this period and all of the solid in the mixture had dissolved. The hot solution was filtered. On cooling, there separated from the filtrate 139 g. of white solid which consisted of alpha-dichloroacetylaminoi-ethylmercaptoacetophenone havingthe formula This product melted at 127.6l28.8 C. after recrystal-.

lization from ethylene chloride. An additional 66 g. of the product was recovered by evaporation of the filtrate to a volume of 600 ml., cooling, and collecting the solid which separated from solution.

C. ALPHA-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-BETA-HYDROXY- 4-ETHYLMERCAPTOPROPIOPHENONE which melted at 150-152 C. When recrystallized in the form of small white leaflets of ethylene chloride, the pure compound melted at l53.2-l54.3 C.

, '14 D. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-(4-E'1HYLMEBCAPTO- I PHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL A mixture of g. ofalpha-dichloroacetylaminobeta-hydroxy-4-ethylmercaptopropiophenone, 100 g. of aluminum isopropoxide, and 1500 ml. of isopropanol was distilled slowly for fifteen hours. The excess isopropanol was removed by distillation at reduced pressure. Two liters of water containing 200 g. of sodium chloride was added to the red viscous residue and the mixture was heated about thirty minutes on a steam bath. The hot mixture was filtered and the filter cake was washed thoroughly with several 200 ml. portions of ethyl ether. The dark red ether layer was separated from the filtrate, dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate, and the ether was removed by evaporation. There was thus obtained as a residue 128 g. of red oil. This oil was taken up in 400 ml. of benzene and the hot solution was filtered with charcoal. On cooling the filtrate 84 g. of white solid separated from the solution. Recrystallization of this product from 300 ml. of ethylene chloride yielded 73 g. of pure 2 dichloroacetylamino 1 (4 ethylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol, having the formula ciu oH-cH-cmoH which melted at 92.4-93.4'c.

E. Z-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-l-(4-ETHYLSULFONYL- PHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL 22 ml. of 40% peracetic acid was added dropwise to a stirred solution of 18.5 g. of 2-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4- ethylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol dissolved in 50 ml. of'acetone. External cooling of the reaction vessel with ice was applied and the rate of addition of peracetic acid was adjusted so that the temperature of the reaction mixture did not rise above 40 C. After completion of the addition of peracetic acid, the reaction mixure was stirred for one hour and was then cooled to 5 C. The solid which separated from solution was collected on a filter and washed with two portions each of 20 ml. of cold acetone. There was thus obtained 17.5 g. of 2-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4-ethylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-propanediol in the form of a white solid which melted at 184.0185.0 C

EXAMPLE 6 Z-dichloroacetylaminc-1-(4-n-prqpylsulfonylphenyl) -1,3-

propanediol omcmcm-soQ-cgn-zz-omon 5 C. with stirring and g. ofacetyl chloride was added. I

235.5 g. of n-propyl phenyl sulfide was then added dropwise at 5 C. The reaction mixture was stirred for fifteen minutes after addition of the sulfide was completed, and was then poured into 1.5 kg. of ice containing 25 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The chloroform layer was separated from the mixture and the chloroform was removed from the solution by distillation. The residual oil was fractionally distilled, and the fraction boiling at 207 C. at 45-48 mm. of mercury was collected. There was thus obtained 253 g. of colorless oil which solidified upon standing. This product, which was 4-n-propylmer captoacetophenone, having the formula V melted at 37.7-39.1 C.

208 g. of bromine was added to a solution of 254 g. of 4-n-propylmercaptoacetophenone in 2 -liters of chl'oroform. After five or ten minutes, the evolution of hydrogen bromide from the reaction mixture had practically ceased,

and the mixture was washed with 2 liters of aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution containing ice. The chloroomomom-sQ-fi-ons-nr in the form of an orange colored oil which was used directly in the next step of the process. Crystallization of a sample of this product from petroleum ether yielded a white solid which melted at approximately 43 C.

95 g. of hexamethylenetetramine was added with stirring to a solution of 176 g. of alpha-bromo-4-n-propyl mercaptoacetophenone dissolved in 850 ml. of acetonitrile. The temperature of the reaction mixture rose from 28' C. to 42 C. and a pale yellow solid separated from solution. After stirring the mixture for two hours, the solid was collected on a filter, washed with two 150 ml. portions of acetonitrile, and with 300 ml. of water, and dried. There was thus obtained, as a pale yellow solid, 174 g. of alpha-bromo4-n-propylmercaptoacetophenonehexamethylenetetramine adduct having the formula omomonr-sQE-onr-BnwHMn which melted at approximately 135 C. with decomposition.

92 g. of alpha-bromo-4-n propylmercaptoacetophenonehexamethylenetctramine adduct was mixed with a solution of 90 'ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 225 ml. of methanol, and the mixture was stirred and refluxed for thirty minutes. Initially, the mixture became dark red in color and after about ten minutes ammonium chloride separated from the solution. The ammonium chloride was removed by filtration, and the filtrate was cooled to -5' C. The solid which separated from the cooled solution was collected on a filter and dissolved in 125 ml. of hot water. The aqueous solution was cooled to 0 C. and the solid which separated from solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained '27 g. of alpha-amino-4-n-propylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride having the formula cmomom-s-Q-g-cm-mimot 16 C. ALPHA-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-BETA-HYDROXY4- mPROPYLMERCAPTOACETOPHENONE A mixture of 13 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamintwl npropylmercaptoacetophenone, 100 ml. of ethanol, and 8 ml. of formalin (37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde) containing 0.8 g. of sodium bicarbonate dissolved therein was stirred at 40-43 C. for four hours. The reaction mixture was then cooled and the solid which separated from the solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 12.5 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-betahydroxy-4-n-propylmercaptoacetophenone, having ,the formula omonioin-sQ-o-on-onlon hydroxide on the filter was washed with several portions,

of ether. The ether layer was separated from the filtrate and dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate. The ether was then removed from the ether solution by evaporation at reduced pressure. The dark amberoil obtained as a residue was taken up in 100 ml. of hot benzene, filtered with charcoal, and the filtrate was diluted with petroleum ether just short of permanent turbidity. On

standing, there separated from the solution 4 g. of solid I which was recrystallized from benzene and then from ethylene chloride. The product thus obtained, which was which melted at approximately 155' C. with decomposition.

B. ALPHA-D!CHLOROACETYLAMINO-4-n-RBOPYLMER- CAPTOACETOPHENONE 27 g. of alpha-amino-4-n-propylrnercaptoacetophenoue hydrochloride was added to 500 ml. of benzene and the resulting mixture was refluxed until no more water distilled oil into a water separator. 41 g. of dichloroacetyl chloride was then added and the mixture was stirred and refluxed for thirty minutes. During this period all of the ketoamine dissolved. The resulting reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue thus obtained was refrigerated. The solid whichseparated from the cooled solution was collected on a filter, washed with 5 ml. of benzene, and dried. There was thus obtained 16.5 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-4-n-propylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula which was recrystallized from benzene as a white solid which melted at 1232-1218 C.

2 dichloroacetylamino 1 (4n-propylmercaptophenyl} 1,3-propanediol, having the formula omon.cms--gn-on-omon H NH-O-CHOls and to this solution there was added 2 ml. of 40% pencetic acid with cooling. After stirring the reaction mixture for about one and one-half hours, the solid which separated from solution was collected on a filter. This product, which was Z-dIchIoroacetylamino-I-(4-n-propylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-propanediol, weighed 1.2 g. and melted at l82.9-l84.5 C. 7

EXAMPLE 7 Z-dichloroacetylamino-I -(4-'n-butylsulfonylpltenyl) -1 ,3-

propanediol cHwmomcm-soQzm-zz-omon A. ALPHA-AKINOA-n-BUTYLMERGAPTOACETOPHENONE This compound was prepared in a manner analogous to that described in part a of Example 6 above for the preparation of the corresponding n-propylmercapto compound. 250 g. of n-butyl phenyl sulfide was treated with 133 g. of acetyl chloride in the presence of 220 g. of aluminum chloride. There was thus obtained 206 g. of 4-n-butylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula which boiled at l38140 C. at 0.8 mm. and melted at 24-25 C. after crystallization from petroleum ether at C. 110 g. of 4-n1-butylmercaptoacetophenone dissolved in one liter of chloroform was treated with 80 g. of bromine to yield 168 g. of alpha-bromo-4-n-butylmercapto acetophenone, having the formula which melted at approximately 113' C. with decomposition. 3

A mixture of 86 g. of alpha-bromo-4-n-butylmercaptoacetophenone-hexamethylenetetramine adduct, '85 ml. of

concentrated hydrochloric acid, and 170 ml. of ethanol was stirred for about ten hours. The ammonium chloride which separated from the mixture as a white solid was removed by filtration and discarded. The filtrate, after partial evaporation at room temperature under reduced pressure, yielded 13.5 g. of a pale yellowish solid which melted at 140-145 C. (dec.). The filtrate from collection of this solid was reduced in volume by evaporation and a further yield of g. of the product was obtained as a brown gummy solid. This gummy sloid was suspended in 50 ml. of acetone,-the solution was cooled in an ice-methanol bath, the solid which separated from the cooled solution was collected on a filter and washed several times with cold acetone. There was thus obtained 26.5 g. of a yellowish-tan solid which melted at 140-145 C. (dec.). The two crops of product melting at 140- 145 C. were combined and the g. of product was recrystallized from 100 ml. of water containing 3 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. There was thus obtained 32.5 g. of alpha-amino-4-n-butylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride having the formula I omornornom-pQ-cg-cE-rMnor in the form of white flaky crystals. A sample of this product was recrystallized from ethanol and then again from water acidulated with hydrochloric acid to yield the pure compound which melted at. 175.5.-l79.3 C. (dcc.).

B. ALPHA-DICHLOROACETYLAMmO-d-n-BUTYLMEB- CAPTOACETOPHENONE A mixture of 27 g. of dry alpha-amino-4-n-butylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride, 125ml. of anhydrous benzene, and 15 ml. of dicbloroacetyl chloride was stirred and heated for fifteen minutes on a steam bath. The reaction mixture was then cooled and the solid which sepa rated from solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 31.6 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylaminoA-nbutylmercaptoacetophenone having the formula l Recrystallization of this product from benzene yielded flufiy white needles which melted at l27.4-l28 C. with sintering at 120.2 C.

Alpha dichloroacetylamino-4-n-heptylmercaptoacetophenone, prepared by a procedure similar to that described .for the corresponding n-butyl compound above, was a white powder melting at 98-99 C. When tested in aqueous solution against Staphylococcus aureus 209 and Eberthella typhi, Hopkins, this compound showed bacteriostatic activity against both organisms in vitro at a maximum dilution of 1:10,000.

C. ALPHA-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-BETA-HYDBOXY- t n-BUTYLMERCAPTOPROPIOPHENONE A mixture of 47.5 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-4-nbutylmercaptoacetophcnone, 300 ml. of ethanol, and 2 g. of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in 23 ml. of formalin (37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde) was heated at 40-45 C. for four hours. The slurry was cooled at 10 C., filtered, and the solid residue was washed with 40 m1. of methanol and dried. There was thus obtained 41 g. of alpha dichloroacetylamino beta hydroxy-4en-butylmercaptopropiophenone having the formula cmomomonatQg-on-omou which when recrystallized from benzene in the form of small white crystals, melted at 123.0-123.8 C.

D. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-l-(4-n-BUTYLMERCAPTO- IHENYL) -1,3-PROPANEDIOL 35 g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-beta-hydroXy-4-nbutylmercaptopropiophenone, 65 g. of aluminum isopropoxide, and one liter of dry isopropanol were distilled slowly for fifteen hours. The excess isopropanol was removed from the reaction mixture by evaporation under reduced pressure, and the reddish residue thus obtained was heated for thirty minutes with 400 ml. of water containing 40 g. of sodium chloride. The aluminum hydroxide which separated from solution was removed by filtration and the filter 'cake was washed thoroughly with ether. The reddish ether layer was separated from the filtrate, dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate, and the ether was removed from the ether solution by evaporation under reduced pressure. The light red viscous oily residue thus obtained was taken up in ml. of benzene, filtered with charcoal, andthe filtrate was cooled. From the filtrate there separated 14 g. of 2-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4- n-butylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol, having the formula omcmcmom-s-Qon-en-omon which was recrystallized from benzene and then from ethylene chloride to yield a white waxy solid which melted at 85.5-87.0 C.

E. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO -1- (dl-BUTYLSULFONYL- PHENXL) -1,3-PROPANEDIQL 3.5 g. of Z-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4-n-butylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol was dissolved in 10 ml. of acetone and to this solution there was added with cooling 4 ml. of 40% peracetic acid. After stirring the reaction mixture for one hour, it was cooled to -l0 C. The solid which separated from the solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 2 5 g. of Z-dichloroacetylaminol-(4-n-butylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediol in the form of a pure white solid which melted at 13l.6-132.8 C. An additional 1.0 g. of this product was obtained by evaporation of the filtrate.

calcium sulfate.

19 EXAMPLES 2-acetylamino-1-(4-benzylsulfonylphenyl) ,3-

propanediol A. ALPHA-AMINMBENZYLMERCAPTOACETOPHENONE HYDROCHLORIDE Y 340 g. of benzyl phenyl sulfide was dissolved in 1200 ml. of anhydrous chloroform and 120 ml. of acetyl chloride was added to the solution. The resulting mixture was cooled to --10' C. and 226 g. of aluminum chloride was added portionwise at such a rate that the temperature of the reaction mixture did not exceed C. After the addition of the aluminum chloride was completed, the mixture was stirred and allowed to warm to 21 C. The mixture was then poured into ice water. The red chloroform layer was separated from the aqueous layer, washed with 300 ml. of dilute hydrochloric acid, and dried over anhydrous The chloroform was then evaporated from the chloroform solution. There was thus obtained as a residue 402 g. of a dark red oil. This oil was dissolved in 1200 ml. of petroleum ether and the resulting solution was filtered hot with charcoal. The yellow filtrate was cooled in an ice bath. 154 g. of yellow solid separated from the cooled solution. This product was recrystallized twice from ethanol and once from petroleum ether. There was thus obtained, in the form of fine white needles which melted at 1139-1153 C. 4-benzylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula 95 g. of 4-benzylmercaptoacetophenone was dissolved in one liter of chloroform and was treated with 62.5 g. of bromine by a procedure similar to the brominationdescribed above in Example 1A. To the solution of alphabromo-4-benzylmercaptoacetophenone thus obtained there was added 56 g. of hexarnethylenetetramine and the mixture was stirred for two hours. The pinkish-white solid which separated was collected on a filter and washed with 200 ml. of chloroform. The resulting crude alpha-bromo- 4 benzylmercaptoacetophenone hexamethylenetetramine adduct, having the formula QCIa-sQ-E-QHr-m-JOBQM was hydrolyzed directly by stirring it for about ten hours at room temperature (about 25 C.) with 180 ml. of concentrated hydrochloride and 360 ml. of ethanol. The reaction mixture was then cooled to 10' C. The solid was collected on a filter and dried. There was thus obtained 145 g. of crude reaction product. Ammonium chloride was removed from this'product by slurrying it with 400 ml. of hot water for ten minutes and then cooling the solution to 10 C. 67 g. of solid separated from the cooled solution. This product was further purified by recrystallization from water containing a little hydrochloric acid. There was thus obtained alpha-amino-4-benzylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride, having the formula Q-em-s-Q-g-om-mnmcr in the form of white leaflets which melted at 214.52l6.5' C. (dec.).

B. ALPHA-ACETYLAMINO-4-BENZYLMERCAPTOACETO- PHENONE by the immediate addition of a solution of 60 g. of sodium acetate trihydrate in 250 ml. of water. The reaction mixture was stirred and allowed to warm to room temperature (about 25 C.), and was then made acid to Congo by addition of hydrochloric'acid. The solid was separated from the mixture by filtration, washed with water, and dried. A small sample of this product was purified by recrystallization from acetone. There was thus obtained alpha-acetylamino-4-benzylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula @om-s-Q-o-cm-Nn-c-cm in the form of white needles which melted at 162.6163.8

c. ALPHA-ACETYLAMINO-BETA-HYDROXY-4-BENZYL- MERCAPTOPROPIOPHENONE The crude product from part B was slurried and warmed at 40 C. with 3.5 liters of ethanol. To this mixture were added 45 ml. of formalin (37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde) and 4 g. of sodium bicarbonate. Stirring of the reaction mixture at 40 C. was continued for twentyfour hours. The suspended sodium bicarbonate was removed from the solution by filtration and the filtrate was evaporated to a volume of about ml., diluted with water, and the white solid which separated from solution was collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 49 g. of pale yellow solid. This product was recrystallized once from ethylene chloride and once from nitroethane. There was thus obtained alpha-acetylamino-beta-hydroxy- 4-benzylmercaptopropiophenone, having the formula which melted at approximately 161 C.

D. Z-ACETYLAMINO-I-(4-BENZYLMEBCAPTOPHENYL)- 1,3-PROPANEDIOL A mixture of 23 g. of alpha-acetylamino-beta-hydroxy- 4-benzylmercaptopropiophenone, 30 g. of aluminum isopropoxide, and one liter of dry isopropanol was refluxed foreighteen hours. During this time isopropanol and acetone was allowed to distil slowly from the reaction mixture. The remaining isopropanol was then distilled off under reduced pressure and the dark red residue was heated for thirty minutes with about 200 ml. of 5% aqueous sodium chloride solution on a steam bath. The mixture was filtered and the residue thus collected was heated with 200 ml. of ethylene chloride. The mixture was filtered hot to remove aluminum hydroxide, and the filtrate was cooled. 11 g. of solid separated from the cooled filtrate. This solid was collected and purified by recrystallization, first from nitroethane, then from ispropanol, and finally, again from nitroethane. There was thus obtained, in the form of white leaflets which melted at 157.0-158.0 C., Z-acetylamino-l-(4 benzylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, having the formula -ly by the separation of a solidproduct: The mixturewas stirred for an additional thirty minutes and then cooled to 10' C. The solid product was collected on a filter and washed with three 2 ml. portions of acetone. There was 21 thus obtained 0.6 g. of white solid. Recrystallization of this solid from 70 ml. of nitroethaue yielded small white leaflets of Z-acetylamino-l-(4-benzylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3- propanediol which melted at 2229-2233 C.

EXAMPLE 9 E-dichloroacetylambto-I-(4-benzylsulfonylphenyl)- 1,3-propanediol Q-ouaoQon-on-omon a. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-(4BENZYLMERCAPTO- PHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL 12 g. of alpha-amino-4-benzylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride (obtained as described above in part A of ple 7), 8 g. of dichloroacetyl chloride, and 500 ml. of dry benzene were refluxed for seven hours. The hot solution was then filtered, g. of solid residue was collected on the filter and the benzene filtrate on cooling yielded an additional 8 g. of the same product, which was alpha-dichloroacetylamino 4 benzylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula H-C-CHClg Reduction of this compound with aluminum isopropoxide in isopropanol yields 2-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4-benzylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol.

B. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-(4-BENZYLSULFONYL- PHEN Y LPIB-PROPANEDIOL When, for the Z-acetylamind-l-(4-benzylmercaptophenyl)l,3-propanediol employedas a reactant in the oxidation procedure described in Example 8E, there is substi tuted Z-dichloroacetylamino-1-(4-benzylmercaptophenyl)- 1,3-propanediol, there is obtained as the product 2-dichloroacetylamino-l-(4-benzylsulfonylphenyl)-l,S-propanediol.

EXAMPLE 10 Z-dichloroacetyIamino-I-(4-phenylsulfonylphenyl)- 1,3-propanediol A. ALPHA-AMINOA-PHENYLMEBCAPTOACETOPHEA NONE HYDROCHLORIDE p A mixture of 190 g. of diphenyl sulfide, 146 g. of aidminum chloride, and-one .literof anhydrous chloroform under reduced pressure. The residue thus obtained was dissolved in a hot mixture of 150 ml. of benzene and 150 ml; of petroleum ether. When the solution was cooled, 158 g. ,of 4-phenylmercaptoacetophenone, having the formula Q Q s separated from solution. This product melted at approxi- I Q-sQ-gq: H -Br The 69 g. of oil was dissolved in 400 ml. of acetonitrile and 32.6 g. of hexamethylenetetramine was added to the solution. The mixture was stirred for thirty minutes and the white creamy solid was then collected on a filter. There was thus obtained 100 g. of crude alpha-bromo-4- phenylrnercaptoacetophenone-hexamethylenetetramine adduct, having the formula @SQi-CHPBIKCHIMIW which melted with decomposition at approximately 206 C. This product was stirred and heated on a steam bath for fifteen minutes with 250 ml. of ethanol and 120 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The ammonium chloride which separated from the mixture was removed by filtration and the filtrate was allowed to stand for several hours at room temperature. The white solid which separated from the solution was collected on a filter, dissolved in hot anhydrous ethanol, filtered hot with charcoal, and the filtrate was cooled. There separated from the cooled solution 22 g. of alpha-amino-4-phenylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride, having the formula which melted at 2l6.72l7.0 C. (dec.). This compound was soluble in water to the extent of 0.25%, weight/vol- A mixture was 22 g. of alpha-amino-4-phenylmercaptoacetophenone hydrochloride, 37 g. of dichloroacetyl chlowas stirred and cooled'to -5' C. 80 g. of acetyl chloride was added to the mixture slowly, the temperature of the mixture being kept at -5 C. to +5 C. When all of the acetyl chloride had been added, stirring was continued for one hour while the reaction mixture was gradually allowed to warm to room temperature. The mixture was then poured into ice water. The chloroform layer was separated from the mixture and the chloroform was removed from the chloroform solution by distillation ride, and ml. of dry benzene was heated under reflux for thirty minutes. The hotreaction mixture was then mercaptoacetophenone separated from the filtrate on cooling. This product melted at 139l4l C. The waterof formalin (37 95 aqueous solution of formaldehyde), and

l g. of sodium bicarbonate was stirred and heated at 40' C. for one hour and then allowed to stand for several hours at room temperature (about 25 C.). The reaction mixture was then reheated to 40 C., filtered to remove sodium bicarbonate, and the filtrate cooled. 11 g. of solid separated from the cooled filtrate. This product was recrystallized from ethylene chloride, thereby yielding 10.5 g. of pure alpha-dichloroacetylamino-beta-hydroxy-4- phenyl-rnercaptoacetophenone, having the formula IilH H which melted at 1285-1295? C.

D. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-(4-PHENYLMERCAP- TOPHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL A mixture of g. of alpha-dichloroacetylamino-betahydroxy-4-phenylmercaptopropiophenone, 20.4 g. of aluminum isopropoxide, and 100 ml. of dry isopropanol was distilled slowly for forty-five minutes. The excess isopropanol was then removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the residue was heated for thirty minutes with 100 ml. of aqueous sodium chloride solution. The aluminum hydroxide which separated from the mixture was collected on a filter and washed thoroughly with ether. The aqueous filtrate was also extracted with ether, and the ether washings and extracts were combined and dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate. The ether was then distilled from the filtrate under reduced pressure. There was thus obtained as a residue 5.0 g. of Z-dichloroacetylamino 1 (4-phenylmercaptophenyl)l,3- propanediol, having the formula QS-QEHQ HkGmOH in the form of a red oil.

E. 2-DICHLOROACETYLAMINO-1-( i-PHENYLSULFONYL- PHENYL)-1,3-PROPANEDIOL Oxidation of the ZdichIoroacetyIanifino-l-(4-phenylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol with peracetic acid in.,a manner similar to the oxidizing procedures described "in the foregoing examples yields 2-dich1oroacetylamino-l- (4-phenylsulfonylphenyl)-l3-propanediol.

Proceeding in accordance with the teachings of the above examples, there can be prepared the following compounds:

2-iodoacetyl-1-[4-(p-tolylsulfonyl)phenyl]-l,3-propanediol, by oxidizing 2-iodoacetyl-l-[4-(p-tolylmercapto)phenyl]-1,3-propanediol, which is prepared by hydroxymethylating alpha-iodoacetylamino-4(p-tolylmercapto)acetophenone and reducting the alpha-iodoacetylamino-beta-hydroxy-+(p-tolylmercapto)propiophenone thus obtained;

Z-beta-chloropropionylamino-1-(4 cyclohexylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-propanediol, by oxidizing 2-beta-chloropropionylamino-1-(4 cyclohexylmercaptophenyD-1,3-propanediol, which is prepared by hydroxymethylating alpha- (beta chloropropionylamino)-4-cyclohexylmercaptoacetophenone and reducing the alpha-(beta-chloropropionylamino) -beta-hydroxy 4 cyclohexylmercaptopropiophenone thus obtained; I

Z-acetylamino l (4-methallylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3 propanediol, by oxidizing 2-acetylamino-l-(4-methallylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, which is prepared by hydroxymethylating alpha acetylamino-4-methallylmercaptoacetophenone and reducing the alpha-acetyl'amino-betahydroxy-4-methallylmercaptopropiophenone thus obtained;

Z-trifluoroacetylamino l (4-methallylsulfonylphenyl)- 1,3-propanediol, by oxidizing 2-trifluoroacetylamino-l-(4- methallylmercaptophenyD-l,3-propanediol, which is prepared by interacting ethyl trifluoroacetate and 2-amino- 1-(4-methyllylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol obtained by dgacylating the corresponding 2-aeetylamino com- P 2-(alpha-methylpropionylamino)-l-(4 isobutylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediol, by oxidizing Z-(aJpha-methylpropionylamino)-1-(4 isobutylmercaptophenyD-1,3-propanediol, which is prepared by interacting 2-amino-l-(4-isobutylmercaptophenyD-l,3-propanediol with alpha-methylpropionyl chloride; and

2-(alpha,beta dichloropropionylamino)-1-(4-tert.-butylsulfonylphenyD-l,3-propanediol, by oxidizing 2-(alpha,-

beta-dichloropropionylamino) 1 (4-tert.-butylmercaptophenyl)-l,3-propanediol, which is prepared by hydroxymethylating alpha-(alphabets-dichloropropionylamino)-4- tert.-butylmercaptoacetophenone and reducing the alpha- (alpha,beta-dichloropropionylamino)-beta-hydroxy-4-tert.- butylmercaptopropiophenone thus obtained.

The racemic and the dextro-rotary forms of the 2-aliphatic carboxylic acylamino 1 (4-hydrocarbylsulfonylphenyl)-l,3-propanediols (I) have been found to have especially high antibiotic activity, being active against gramnegative and gram-positive bacteria and rickettsial organisms. In general, the dextro-rotary form is more active than the racemic form. In many instances, the dextrorotary form has approximately twice the antibacterial activity of the racemic form.

The 2-aliphatic carboxylic acylamino-l-(4-hydr0carbylmercaptophenyl)-1,3-propanediols (H) and alpha-(aliphatic carboxylic acylamino)-beta-hydroxy-4-hydrocarbylmercaptopropiophenones (VII) described hereinabove, as well as the respective reduction and hydroxymethylation processes for their preparation are claimed in the copending U. S. Patent application Serial No. 249,206, filed October 1, 1951, by Royal A. Cutler and Chester M. Suter. The a1pha-h'alo-4-(hydrocarbylmercapto)acetophenone-hexamethylenetetramine adducts (IV) described hereinabove are claimed in my co-pending parent applicawhere R is a hydrocarbyl radical having l-7 carbon atoms and Y is a lower aliphatic carboxylic acylamino radical.

2. Acompound'of the formula where R is a lower saturated aliphatic carboxy acyl group.

3. Acompound of the formula CHr-BQE-CHr-NH-R' where R is a lower saturated aliphatic carboxy acyl group.

4. Acompound of the formula 0 I cuhs-gi onrma-ii-cnch 5 A compound of the formula No refereneel cited. 

1. AN ALPHA-(LOWER ALIPHATIC CARBOXYLIC ACYLAMINO)-4HYDROCARBYLMERCAPTOACETOPHENONE OF THE FORMULA 